Regional

2:30 pm

Fri March 2, 2012

Martinez Signs Budget

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has signed a state budget that increases spending by 4 percent next year and provides a boost in take-home pay for educators and state workers.

The governor cut almost $2 million from the budget with line-item vetoes, including $75,000 to promote "adventure tourism" in McKinley County and $50,000 for "salary adjustments" for Northern New Mexico College faculty.

The budget allocates $5.6 billion for public education, colleges and government programs in the fiscal year starting July 1. That represents a $219 million increase over this year.

The governor signed the bill on Friday.

The budget provides nearly $50 million for higher government payments into public employee pensions next year, allowing worker contributions to drop by a similar amount, which boosts the take-home pay of workers.